I guess it is time to start discussing bug out vehicles(BOV's). It would be great to have a $90,000 budget to build a state-of-the-art bug-out vehicle, but, let's face it most of us will never have that much $$ to spend on a project, with the exception of maybe a home.
So, we must make do with what we have. Upgrade when we can. And Plain Jane do the best we can with what we got.
This is a project I am currently working on with my daily driver. I have built a cargo organizer in the back of the Tahoe. I do not have a fancy shop to work with so the metalwork was done on the front steps on my condo unit, no wire welder, no metal press - just a hand drill, vise grips, and a pop rivet gun. Then a quick coat of Flat Khaki paint. Nothing fancy, but it seems to work. The metal frame allows me to have a 5" storage space below the luggage so I always have access to the hi-lift jack, shovel or bow saw. The cargo bags on the luggage level each contain and organize the necessary items, tow straps, booster cables, and first aid kit. It worked out great that I was able to re-use the factory cargo area mat on my luggage level of the organizer. Adds padding and looks good to boot.
I also like the fact that everything fits below the retractable cargo cover, so looking in from a window the Tahoe looks like every other Tahoe with the cargo cover extended. Having a bug-out vehicle that does not standout from the crowd is a bonus. I would enjoy having one of them modern Suburbans with a 6" lift, roof rack, off-road lights everywhere and a gun rack on the dash. However, that would just scream "Ambush ME!" So, I will pass on the flash. I will stick with what I can afford, an old Tahoe.
What projects are you working on?? Got any pics you are willing to share?? For Opsec, try to avoid pics that display your license plate.
See you in Bragg Creek next weekend.
Mountainman.
If you want more details, please visit my Blog - Mountainman's Mantra on Blogspot:
http://mtnmanblog.blogspot.ca/
I have a few more pics and a few step-by-step instruction for building the cargo organizer pictured.
Cheers,
Mountainman.
Wish I had a Tahoe seeing what you have done here. Great job, really like what you are thinking with this.
Very nice Mountainman...you've just given me a few idea's for my sedan 😳 (no BOV but my old Toyota V6 is still hanging in there) I don't have building skills (or the tools) to use metal, but I can maybe use some light timber . Thanks for the pics too.
Russell Coight....outback legend
I hoped these pictures would help others. Sounds like it has. Thanks for the kind words.
Mountainman.
Very nice Mountainman...you've just given me a few idea's for my sedan 😳 (no BOV but my old Toyota V6 is still hanging in there) I don't have building skills (or the tools) to use metal, but I can maybe use some light timber . Thanks for the pics too.
Susannah be sure to share a pic or two when your project is complete. You may give others ideas for their project vehicle.
Mountainman.
Because I do not have the option with my current vehicle to do something like the above, I have been considering a small cargo trailer to tow along behind. I could use it for work, as well as devote some space to a similar idea of what you have done. Just a pain to tow it when I do not really need it for work all the time.
Hey Crashed,
I hear ya. Dragging a trailer can be a pain. However, if you have a cargo trailer that you can dedicate to your gear it does offer you a one stop before you have to hit the road. I think having anything that can be pre-packed and ready 24/7 has got to be better than having to pack your gear from the garage, storage room, basement and/or storage site before you can bug-out. That is the appeal to BOB's, BOV's and BOL's. They are purpose built and functional. No BS, just get and go. Hey, we can only do the best we can, with what we got. Nothing wrong with making plans for the future. Maybe your next vehicle can serve two purposes, and at that time you can see what vehicle fits your budget and needs.
Mountainman.
Very nice Mountainman...you've just given me a few idea's for my sedan 😳 (no BOV but my old Toyota V6 is still hanging in there) I don't have building skills (or the tools) to use metal, but I can maybe use some light timber . Thanks for the pics too.
Susannah be sure to share a pic or two when your project is complete. You may give others ideas for their project vehicle.
Mountainman.
I will certainly do that 😀
Russell Coight....outback legend
I've seen this set up in the back of contractor vehicles (minivans to trucks) but never put it into the context of a BoV! You've given me something to work on this summer... will test it out in hunting season. Great pictures.
I also have a utility trailer that I'm hoping to make some minor modifications to as well, so if anyone has any images of what they have, that would be great. I'll post once I've made an attempt but I'm not a carpenter or welder so it won't be pretty.
(like to Susannah's project as well as we have a smaller vehicle also)
Dangphool,
I most certainly am not a carpenter nor a welder. This organizer was built with the simplest of tools. Drill and pop rivet gun, mostly.
I look forward to seeing what you construct with your vehicle and/or your trailer. The more ideas that get posted the more ideas will be generated.
For a laugh, one of these days I will post pics of the chuck boxes I built a few years back. They work for camping, but the carpentery is not cabinet-maker quality. But hey they work. LOL.
Maybe we can get some more pics of the projects others have completed or attempted.
Mountainman.
I promised that I would put up some pictures when I completed my "BOV storage system" I'll say straight up that I'm quite embarrassed by this effort. 😳 Laugh if you like...but it works for me...that being said, any suggestions would be appreciated.
Well...here goes:
After measuring the stuff I need to take if/when we need to bug out - I realized that I couldn’t use timber due to the mandatory items I needed to fit into the back of my sedan. Instead I cut down a large cardboard box (which still needs a small cargo net to stop gear moving around)
I always carry several litres of water in the car. The centre spot is for “3 small 72 hour people BOB’s" .
I also needed to leave enough space to be able to put in the tent, 3 swags and a large BOB (for 3 dogs, 4 cats and a guinea pig). Plus mum’s walking frame. It all “just” fits!
I only intend to leave my base if threatened by bushfire so I have 3 people and 8 animals (to fit inside the sedan where normally 5 people would fit comfortably)to move in a hurry - my plans are 15 minutes "tops" to get out so we don't become "crispy critters". I'm also thinking that a camper trailer and a roof rack would spread the load a little better. Car is a 1995 Toyota V6 sedan with 372,200 kms on the clock. Dogs and kid can load up in under 2 minutes (cats & G/pig poked into travel crates another minute)- mother takes over 10 minutes to get out of house and into car 😡
Russell Coight....outback legend
Hey Susannah, the image didn't come through...
Bugger!...it came up fine on my computer so I figured it had worked.....little help please - how do I upload a photo from my mobile phone?
I'll try and explain:-
What I wanted to do was make a curved shelving arrangement out of timber that started from the sides (2 shelves high) and curved around the back of the boot (trunk) and to the other side. I realised early on (after measuring the stuff that I will have to take with me) that the tent and walking frame wouldn't fit if I used timber all around. I also have a CD stacker in the back which again limits the height of the unit that I can fit in. So, I cut down a large cardboard box and used the side that I removed from the box to put some dividers in (and glued them in place) to stop stuff sliding around. This "box" was then pushed deep into the boot so that it rests against the rear of the compartment under the "shelf" made by the rear window and the back of the seat. I still need to make a small cargo net to prevent stuff from coming out of it, but this will allow me to fit in the tent, walking frame etc. I've also decided to use velcro on the back of messkit bag, first aid bag et and "stick" these bags to the sides of the boot (trunk) As I stated, the only reason (at this stage) that I will be leaving will be because of bushfire. I moved to this location just over three years ago, so I consider that this is my BOL.
Sorry the photo didn't work-but did I explain it well enough?
BTW - if anyone has any suggestions to improve the above "verbal diagram" I'd love to hear them!
Russell Coight....outback legend
Susannah,
I think I follow you. A creative use of cardboard, duct tape, and glue. Way to improvise.
A photo would help. I have not found how to upload a pic for this site so I use the Tahoe Yukon Forum to upload pics to a picture album, then I copy the photos info, to insert them here. Some pics I copy from my blog.
Not sure how to get photos off a phone. Techie I am not.
Mountainman.